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Welcome to the Providence City Council website.

Here you will find information about the activities and initiatives of the legislative branch of Providence’s government. From Council meetings to neighborhood meetings, the members of the City Council are committed to taking action to improve the quality of life for every Providence resident.

Providence has vast cultural, artistic, and historical assets, which the Council seeks to enhance as we move forward, conducting the business of the people with integrity, transparency, and efficiency.

We encourage you to get involved in your community, and to make your voices heard by your elected officials on the Council. We are here to serve.

For over a year I have worked with constituents, various community groups, and our partners in city government here in Providence to bring about an ordinance that will reduce the dependence of single-use plastic bags in our state’s capital. I’m thrilled that Governor Raimondo is taking this bold action to move our state forward and exploring ways we can all lessen our reliance on single-use plastics. It’s imperative to our state’s economy and to future generations that we protect our oceans and waterways from the scourge of plastic pollution, and Governor Raimondo’s Executive Order will help achieve that end. I thank the Governor for her leadership on this important issue.

Providence City Council’s Committee on Ordinances will hold a public hearing regarding a text change and change in zoning map for the property located on Assessor’s Plat 20, Lot 397 (250 Dyer Street). The proposed development is commonly referred to as the “Fane Tower” or the “Hope Point Tower.”

The hearing will take place on Wednesday, July 18, 2018 at 5:30 PM in the City Council Chambers located on the third floor of City Hall (25 Dorrance Street, Providence, RI 02903).

If any person wishes to make public comment they are asked to sign in prior to the 5:30 PM meeting start time.The chambers will open on or around 5:00 PM and sign ups will begin at the same time.

Constituents who are unable to attend the public hearing may provide written testimony by mail or email to Lori L. Hagen, City Clerk: lhagen@providenceri.gov or City Clerk, 25 Dorrance Street, Room 311, Providence, RI 02903. (Please note, if you submit written testimony you are not required to appear or read your testimony at the public hearing.)

Offices and City Council Chambers are accessible to individuals with disabilities. If you are in need of interpreter services for the hearing impaired, please contact the Office of Neighborhood Services at 421-7768 not less than 48 hours in advance of the hearing date.

Providence City Council President David A. Salvatore participated in National Summer Learning Day today at Young Woods Elementary Schools’ Bell Summer Learning Program.

“The summer is a great time for Providence youth to enjoy our parks and recreation centers, but it is also a time to remind students to keep learning,” stated Council President David A. Salvatore. “Learning does not just happen in our schools but can happen all the time. By reading for 20 minutes a day, students can avoid the “summer slide” and be prepared for the next school year. Learning opportunities for our students are very important to me, which is why last month I helped kick off the Providence Schools “Passport to Summer Learning” program, and now am taking part in National Summer Learning Day by reading to students.”

Council President Salvatore read “Diary of a Spider” by Doreen Cronin with illustrations by Harry Bliss to rising first graders.

National Summer Learning Day is a national advocacy day aimed at elevating the importance of keeping kids learning, safe and healthy every summer, and ensuring they return to school in the fall ready to succeed in the year. Participations sends a powerful message across the nation that summers matter and offers an opportunity to showcase how summers can make a life-changing difference in the lives of young people. Council President Salvatore encourages families to make every day a learning day and to read every day.

Today City Council President David Salvatore launched the Council’s Be Heard PVD campaign. The campaign is designed to expand community access to and participation in Council-led public hearings by broadening outreach and notification to constituents.

“The City Council holds several public hearings each year, but often I only hear from residents after the fact,” stated City Council President David A. Salvatore. “They frequently tell me they were not notified or didn’t know it was happening. Although the City follows all state and city statutes to notify the public about hearings, we can do better, and that is what Be Heard PVD is about. I hope that our colleagues throughout the City will follow suit and also examine how they are notifying residents of important community conversations and public hearings.”

The Be Heard PVD campaign is a multi-platform approach to notifying residents about Council-led public hearings. It includes the use of social media, the City Council website, print advertising, media advisories, and other technologies.

Council President Salvatore continued, “We live in the 21st century, yet we are using 20th-century communication outlets to notify residents about these hearings. Our constituents deserve to be heard, and they cannot do that if they aren’t aware they have the chance.”

Community members may be notified about public hearings by following the campaign on Twitter at @BeHeardPVD and Facebook at @BeHeardPVD for notices of public hearings and other information relating to City Council-led meetings. These channels will only have information regarding public hearings or Council-led meetings. For information about City Council events, please follow along on Twitter @ProvCityCouncil and Facebook at @ProvCityCouncil.

Constituents who are unable to attend a public hearing can provide written testimony by mail or email to Lori L. Hagen, City Clerk: lhagen@providenceri.gov or City Clerk, 25 Dorrance Street, Room 311, Providence, RI 02903. (Please note, if you submit written testimony you are not required to appear or read your testimony at the public hearing.)

In 2013, the City Council launched the Providence City Open Meetings Portal to make access to meeting notices, searching agenda items, and viewing attendance and voting records for the City Council and its boards and commissions much easier for constituents. It is a single public access point and can be found online at providenceri.iqm2.com. Community members can also choose to be notified about public meetings and hearings by registering on the Open Meetings Portal and choosing “Public City Council (All Associated Meetings)” on the distribution list.

If anyone has other suggestions as to how the Council can share this information we encourage you to call the City Council office at 401-521-7477 or email us at council@providenceri.gov.